Motorized bathtub seat apparatus

ABSTRACT

A motorized bathtub seat apparatus is supported by a floor adjacent to a bathtub and includes a base that is connected to the floor. A bearing assembly is connected to the base. A tubular housing has a lower housing end supported by the bearing assembly and extends upward from the bearing assembly. An externally threaded shaft has a bottom shaft end fitted into the bearing assembly. The externally threaded shaft is supported by the bearing assembly. A lift/lower reversible motor is connected to the externally threaded shaft and is supported by the tubular housing. A lift/lower guide slot is contained in the tubular housing. A swingable seat assembly is connected to and is supported by the externally threaded shaft and is guided in up and down motion by the lift/lower guide slot. The subject motorized bathtub seat apparatus permits a person to be seated in the swingable seat assembly, lifted, and swung into and out from the bathtub.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority based upon my copending Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/831,321, filed Jul. 17, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to devices for lifting and swinging patients or invalid persons, and, more particularly, to a device especially adapted for lifting and swinging a patient or invalid person into or out of a bathtub.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is well known in the care of patients and invalid persons to provide a device for lifting and lowering the person into and out of a bathtub. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to lifting and swinging a person into or out of a bathtub, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,889,304, 3,918,108, and 5,903,934.

More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,304 discloses a cradle for an invalid person and a tub which can be raised and lowered to accommodate the invalid person. The cradle is manually pivoted to swing the invalid person over the tub on away from the tub. The tub is lifted and lowered by a person to accommodate the invalid person sitting in the cradle. A tub is a quite long article made of heavy materials. Therefore, the tub exerts substantial leverage force on the tub support when the tub is lifted. Moreover, when a tub is lifted and an invalid person is pivotally supported, either separate supports must be provided for each of the invalid person and the tub, or a single support must be provided to accommodate both the invalid person and the tub. In this respect, to avoid the complexity of structures to accommodate lifting and lowering a tub, it would be desirable to accommodate an invalid person without lifting and lowering a tub.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,108 discloses a portable bath lift in which a portion of the bath lift is clamped onto a tub, and another portion of the bath lift is supported by the floor, adjacent to the tub. An invalid person is placed in a seat, and the seat is manually swung to place the invalid person over the tub and to be manually lowered therein with a hydraulic jack. The force of the clamp on the tub may cause damage to the tub, particularly when an invalid person is seated. To avoid such damage to the tub, it would be desirable if an invalid person could be swung into and out of tub without the need to clamp onto the tub.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,934 discloses a device for lifting an invalid person into and out from a tub. The device has wheels, and the wheels are present on an undercarriage. A portion of the undercarriage must be wheeled under an elevated tub. Ordinarily, a tub rests on a bathroom floor and is not elevated above the tub. Therefore, it would be desirable if a device were provided for lifting an invalid person into and out of a tub that does not require the tub to be elevated above the bathroom floor and does not require an undercarriage to be wheeled under an elevated tub.

In addition to the patents cited above, the following U.S. patents are of interest: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,383,238 and 6,964,070.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,238 discloses a lift for an invalid person which employs a lifting bar that swings a considerable distance above the height of the pedestal which supports the lifting bar. This device is intended for outdoor use, next to a swimming pool. To swing the lifting bar a considerable distance above the support pedestal may not be a problem in an outdoor environment. However, in an indoor environment, such as a bathroom, a ceiling would normally be too low to accommodate such a considerable distance above the support pedestal. Therefore, for a bathroom environment, it would be desirable if a device for lifting an invalid person into a tub would not require for operation a considerable distance above a support pedestal.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,070 discloses a lifting device for lifting a patient into and out of a bed. The lifting device is attached to a bedframe. More specifically, a portion of the device is secured to the headboard of the bed. Since a bathtub does not include a headboard, it would be desirable to provide a patient lifting device that does not require to be supported by attachment to a headboard.

Still other features would be desirable in a device for lifting and lowering a patient or invalid person into and out of a tub. For a patient's seat, it would be desirable for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations to be independently motorized. Also, it would be desirable for a single control unit to house controls for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations.

Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use devices for lifting and lowering a patient or invalid person into and out of a tub, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a motorized bathtub seat apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) accommodates a patient or invalid person without lifting and lowering a tub; (2) provides for swinging an invalid person into and out of a tub without the need to clamp onto the tub; (3) provides a device for lifting an invalid person into a tub would not requiring a considerable open distance above a support pedestal; (4) provides for lifting an invalid person into and out of a tub without requiring the tub to be elevated above the bathroom floor and does not require an undercarriage to be wheeled under an elevated tub; (5) does not require to be supported by attachment to a headboard; (6) for a patient's seat, provides for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations to be independently motorized; and (7) provides a single control unit to house controls for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique motorized bathtub seat apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a motorized bathtub seat apparatus which is supported by a floor adjacent to a bathtub and includes a base that is connected to the floor. A bearing assembly is connected to the base. A tubular housing has a lower housing end supported by the bearing assembly and extends upward from the bearing assembly. An externally threaded shaft has a bottom shaft end fitted into the bearing assembly. The externally threaded shaft is supported by the bearing assembly. A lift/lower reversible motor is connected to the externally threaded shaft and is supported by the tubular housing. A lift/lower guide slot is contained in the tubular housing. A pivotal or swingable seat assembly is connected to and is supported by the externally threaded shaft. The seat assembly is guided in up and down motion by the lift/lower guide slot. The motorized bathtub seat apparatus of the invention permits a person to be readily seated in the swingable seat assembly outside the bathtub, lifted while outside the bathtub, swung into the bathtub, and lowered into the bathtub, all by the operation of a master controller and a pair of reversible electric motors.

Preferably, the pivotal or swingable seat assembly includes lift-up/lower down means which are connected to the externally threaded shaft. Swing-in/swing-out means are connected to the tubular housing, and a seat unit is connected to the swing-in/swing-out means and the lift-up/lower down means.

Preferably, the lift-up/lower down means include an internally threaded sleeve portion which is in engagement with the externally threaded shaft, and a transverse guide portion is connected between the internally threaded sleeve portion and the seat unit. The transverse guide portion rides in the lift/lower guide slot.

The swing-in/swing-out means include a swing-in/swing-out reversible motor which includes a driving gear. The swing-in/swing-out reversible motor is supported by the tubular housing. A driven gear is connected to the tubular housing. The driven gear is meshed with the driving gear.

Preferably, a top stop member is connected to the tubular housing for limiting upward movement of the swingable seat assembly, and a bottom stop member is connected to the tubular housing for limiting downward movement of the swingable seat assembly.

A master controller is electrically connected to the lift/lower reversible motor and the swing-in/swing-out reversible motor for controlling operation of the lift/lower reversible motor and the swing-in/swing-out reversible motor.

The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such motorized bathtub seat apparatus available to the buying public.

Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which accommodates a patient or invalid person without lifting and lowering a tub.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus that provides for swinging an invalid person into and out of a tub without the need to clamp onto the tub.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which provides a device for lifting an invalid person into a tub would not requiring a considerable open distance above a support pedestal.

Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus that provides for lifting an invalid person into and out of a tub without requiring the tub to be elevated above the bathroom floor and does not require an undercarriage to be wheeled under an elevated tub.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which does not require to be supported by attachment to a headboard.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus that for a patient's seat, provides for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations to be independently motorized.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus which provides a single control unit to house controls for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations.

These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a preferred embodiment of the motorized bathtub seat apparatus of the invention placed next to a bathtub.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a control panel used with the embodiment of the motorized bathtub seat apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of the motorized bathtub seat apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 thereof.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partially broken away view of the of the portion of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, contained in circled area 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partially broken away view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

Turning to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the motorized bathtub seat apparatus of the invention generally designated by reference numeral 10. In each of the figures, reference numerals are shown that correspond to like reference numerals that designate like elements shown in other figures.

In the preferred embodiment, motorized bathtub seat apparatus 10 is supported by a floor 13 adjacent to a bathtub 11 and includes a base 12 that is connected to the floor 13. A bearing assembly 16 is connected to the base 12. A tubular housing 14 has a lower housing end supported by the bearing assembly 16 and extends upward from the bearing assembly 16. An externally threaded shaft 18 has a bottom shaft end fitted into the bearing assembly 16. The externally threaded shaft 18 is supported by the bearing assembly 16. A lift/lower reversible motor 20 is connected to the externally threaded shaft 18 and is supported by the tubular housing 14. A lift/lower guide slot 22 is contained in the tubular housing 14. A pivotal or swingable seat assembly is connected to and is supported by the externally threaded shaft 18. The seat assembly is guided in up and down motion by the lift/lower guide slot 22. The motorized bathtub seat apparatus 10 of the invention permits a person to be readily seated in the swingable seat assembly outside the bathtub 11, lifted while outside the bathtub 11, swung into the bathtub 11, and lowered into the bathtub 11, all by the operation of a master controller and a pair of reversible electric motors.

Preferably, the pivotal or swingable seat assembly includes lift-up/lower down means which are connected to the externally threaded shaft 18. Swing-in/swing-out means are connected to the tubular housing 14, and a seat unit 24 is connected to the swing-in/swing-out means and the lift-up/lower down means.

Preferably, the lift-up/lower down means include an internally threaded sleeve portion 36 which is in engagement with the externally threaded shaft 18, and a transverse guide portion 38 is connected between the internally threaded sleeve portion 36 and the seat unit 24. The transverse guide portion 38 rides in the lift/lower guide slot 22.

The swing-in/swing-out means include a swing-in/swing-out reversible motor 26 which includes a driving gear 28. The swing-in/swing-out reversible motor 26 is supported by the tubular housing 14. A driven gear 30 is connected to the tubular housing 14. The driven gear 30 is meshed with the driving gear 28. The driving gear 28 can be a worm gear.

Preferably, a top stop member 40 is connected to the tubular housing 14 for limiting upward movement of the swingable seat assembly, and a bottom stop member 42 is connected to the tubular housing 14 for limiting downward movement of the swingable seat assembly.

A master controller 32 is electrically connected to the lift/lower reversible motor 20 and the swing-in/swing-out reversible motor 26 for controlling operation of the lift/lower reversible motor 20 and the swing-in/swing-out reversible motor 26. The lift/lower reversible motor 20 and the swing-in/swing-out reversible motor 26 can be AC motors which receive AC power from a plug 34 that is plugged into an AC outlet (not shown).

To employ the motorized bathtub seat apparatus 10 of the invention, the master controller 32 is operated by pressing the appropriate control buttons so that the seat unit 24 is in the swung-out position and in the lifted position as shown in the solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then, a person (not shown) is seated in the seat unit 24 outside of the bathtub 11. Once the person is seated in the swung-out seat unit 24, the master controller 32 is operated by pressing the appropriate control button so that the seated person is swung to the swung-in position. The seat unit 24 and the person seated therein are over the bathtub 11. Then, the master controller 32 is further operated by pressing the appropriate control button so that the seat unit 24 is lowered into the lowered position in the bathtub 11 as shown in broken lines in FIGS. 3 and 4.

To remove the person from the bathtub 11, the master controller 32 is operated by pressing the appropriate control button so that the seat unit 24 and the person seated therein are raised to the lifted position. Then, the master controller 32 is operated by the by pressing the appropriate control button so that the seat unit 24 and the person seated therein are swung to the swung-out position.

More specifically with respect to operation of the lift-up/lower down means, when the seat unit 24 is lifted or lowered, the lift/lower reversible motor 20 is operated appropriately. When the lift/lower reversible motor 20 is operated, the lift/lower reversible motor 20 causes the externally threaded shaft 18 to rotate with respect to the bearing assembly 16. As the externally threaded shaft 18 is rotated, the internally threaded sleeve portion 36 rides up or down on the rotating externally threaded shaft 18. The lift/lower guide slot 22 guides the transverse guide portion 38 in its up or down movement. The top stop member 40 and the bottom stop member 42 limit upward or downward movement, respectively.

More specifically, with respect to operation of the swing-in/swing-out means, when the swing-in/swing-out reversible motor 26 is operated by pressing the appropriate control buttons of the master controller 32, the driving gear 28 is driven in the appropriate direction, and the driving gear 28 drives the driven gear 30 in the appropriate direction so that the tubular housing 14 rotates within the bearing assembly 16. When this occurs, the pivotal or swingable seat assembly is rotated with respect to the base unit 12 so that the seat unit 24 is positioned either outside the bathtub 11 or inside the bathtub 11.

The components of the motorized bathtub seat apparatus of the invention can be made from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved motorized bathtub seat apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, and which may advantageously be used to accommodate a patient or invalid person without lifting and lowering a tub. With the invention, a motorized bathtub seat apparatus provides for swinging an invalid person into and out of a tub without the need to clamp onto the tub. With the invention, a motorized bathtub seat apparatus provides a device for lifting an invalid person into a tub would not requiring a considerable open distance above a support pedestal. With the invention, a motorized bathtub seat apparatus provides for lifting an invalid person into and out of a tub without requiring the tub to be elevated above the bathroom floor and does not require an undercarriage to be wheeled under an elevated tub. With the invention, a motorized bathtub seat apparatus is provided which does not require to be supported by attachment to a headboard. With the invention, a motorized bathtub seat apparatus is provided which for a patient's seat, provides for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations to be independently motorized. With the invention, a motorized bathtub seat apparatus provides a single control unit to house controls for both lifting/lowering and swinging operations.

Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use.

Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification.

Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

1. A motorized bathtub seat apparatus supported by a floor adjacent to a bathtub, comprising: a base connected to the floor, a bearing assembly connected to said base, a tubular housing having a lower housing end supported by said bearing assembly and extending upward from said bearing assembly, a externally threaded shaft having a bottom shaft end fitted into said bearing assembly, wherein said externally threaded shaft is supported by said bearing assembly, a lift/lower reversible motor connected to said externally threaded shaft and supported by said tubular housing, a lift/lower guide slot contained in said tubular housing, and a swingable seat assembly connected to and supported by said externally threaded shaft and guided in up and down motion by said lift/lower guide slot.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said swingable seat assembly includes: lift-up/lower down means connected to said externally threaded shaft, swing-in/swing-out means connected to said tubular housing, and a seat unit connected to said swing-in/swing-out means and said lift-up/lower down means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lift-up/lower down means include: an internally threaded sleeve portion which is in engagement with said externally threaded shaft, and a transverse guide portion connected between said internally threaded sleeve portion and said seat unit, wherein said transverse guide portion rides in said lift/lower guide slot.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said swing-in/swing-out means include: a swing-in/swing-out reversible motor which includes a driving gear, wherein said swing-in/swing-out reversible motor is supported by said tubular housing, and a driven gear connected to said tubular housing, wherein said driven gear is meshed with said driving gear.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including: a master controller, electrically connected to said lift/lower reversible motor and said swing-in/swing-out reversible motor, for controlling operation of said lift/lower reversible motor and said swing-in/swing-out reversible motor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a top stop member connected to said tubular housing for limiting upward movement of said swingable seat assembly, and a bottom stop member connected to said tubular housing for limiting downward movement of said swingable seat assembly. 